Find out what the elections mean for Main Street
The midterm elections were critical for the future of small business. Inflation is still a top concern for small business owners, as well as staffing shortages, and supply chain disruptions. Pro-small business legislation and policies start with electing candidates who will focus on the issues that matter to small businesses across the country.
Leading up to the election, NFIB sent Voter Guides and candidate spotlight emails to NFIB members across the nation, launched paid advertising campaigns in ten states, deployed get-out-the-vote Road Teams to three states, and assisted NFIB members with hosting campaign events to rally their communities around pro-small business candidates. The purpose of these efforts was to raise awareness about the candidates who were endorsed by NFIB’s political action committees (PACs) and to provide clear information before NFIB members went to the polls. NFIB’s Road Team was also a crucial opportunity for NFIB members to discuss their top concerns and priorities during these difficult economic times.
Ballots are still being counted from the midterm elections, but the small business community has already seen success in many states. In Congress, Republicans won a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats have won 50 seats in the U.S. Senate and a runoff election scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6 will determine the winner of a Senate seat in Georgia.
In a divided Congress – with Democrats leading the Senate and Republicans leading the House – NFIB does not expect large pieces of legislation to be signed into law. Congress will have to pass legislation to fund the government and authorize defense spending, known as “must-pass” legislation. The House will focus on oversight of the Administration and their Commitment to America agenda. The Senate will focus on federal judicial nominations and legislation leftover from this Congress, which could include paid leave mandates, tax increases, and healthcare priorities like insulin costs. NFIB expects legislative gridlock and an increase in regulatory activity from the Administration.
If you’d like to learn more about the voice of small business in the 2022 midterms, go to NFIB.com/Elections. NFIB members can find the NFIB PACs’ full list of endorsed candidates here.
